High-flying Swans

Cherry on top of a highly successful half-season for Swansea City was certainly their 2-0 fourth round FA Cup away win over the top-fliers Portsmouth. This win has been a surprise only for those who haven’t been following two rivals’ latest performances. It was so evident that, in both games with Bristol City (FA Cup last round) and in the league fixture against Tottenham, Portsmouth failed to put on the performances worthy of the results from the mentioned duels. Every part of Pompey was squeaking, there was a draught blowing between Soll Campbell and Sylvain Distain in defense more than ever. Tony Adams will have a lot more work to do and it is question if he will be successful.

However, when we talk about Swansea, the story is completely different. Even since before the start of the season, pundits have guesses that Welsh rookies will not be fighting for survival in Coca Cola Championship. Main reason for such a claim was excellent last season’s League One campaign when coach Robert Martinez’s side was more than convincing in their promotion campaign. They have opened the season as a tough team that hardly concede goals, who are quite hungry and angry at home soil. Outings, on the other hand, have been Swans’ weak side.

And then, somewhere before the excellent run commenced, Ferrie Bode got injured. Norwegian Bode has been an irreplaceable link for two years on the middle, excellent shooter and a real powerhouse who was targeted by many top-fliers. With his ligaments injured, Bode will be sidelined until the end of the season, but it didn’t stop Swans from making a wonderful run stretching to 12 winless games. They first had a series of eight draws (with them mostly being the unlucky, better rivals) and then they notched up four wins along with the win over Portsmouth at Fratton Park.

Among their big achievements, we should definitely include a home win over Reading (2-0) when they have stopped the visitors’ two-month run without a loss. Also, they triumphed in Burnley 2-0 again out at one of the best teams this autumn and this year’s cup attraction. Before that, quite deserved 0-0 in Birmingham, putting on the better performance than the best team in Coca Cola Championship, Birmingham City.

All of this is far from coincidence. Spaniard, Roberto Martinez is the youngest manager in the Championship, the man has been in the club for two years and he still hasn’t put his boots away. After the successful midfielder career with Swansea and Chester, he had accepted the invitation to become Swans’ player-manager. As he didn’t put on a numbered shirt, he has given it all to managerial business and has written history with his team this season. After a 25-year break, Swansea City grabbed the seat in the English second League, but club’s plans doesn’t end here. Financial stability is the main feature of this Welsh club, and the number of foreigners (mostly Spaniards) is the consequence of Martinez’s restless scrutinizing for cheap and unused players from Europe and South America. Most of them have fitted in just fine and are doing a hell of a job for a pocket money – defenders Angel Rangel (Spain), Marcos Painter (Ireland), Federico Bessone (Argentina), midfielders Andrea Orlandi and Jordi Gomez (Spain), Ferrie Bode (Norway), Thomas Butler (Ireland), strikers Jason Scotland (Trinidad), Gorka Pintado and Guillem Bauza (Spain), etc…

It is believed that Swansea are playing most beautiful football in the Championship. Although I haven’t always agreed to “passing” football at any rate , it seems as if Martinez has pulled it off and made a successful approach. In example, Ian Poorvliet failed to do the same thing and had to leave his post at Southampton due to poor results, trying to apply the “total football” tactics on the Saints. Also, Sean O’Driscollu has got only a partial result doing the same thing with Doncaster Rovers.

Play-off seat is within the reach for the Swans, and everything is possible until the end. They proved to posses the consistency and the quality, all they need to do is to cluster in and keep up the pace until the end. They seem capable…

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